Button-sewing attachment



Nov. 19, 1929. .R. WILSON 1,736,475

BUTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT Filed NO v. 18, 1927 1N VEN TOR.

v ATToRNE ai Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT err-acs JAMES R. WILSON, 0E GREENEVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOE OF ONE-HALL TG H. R. MEADE AND ONE-FOURTH TO A. IVI. COX, BOTH OF GREENEVILLE, TENNESSEE BUTTON-SEWING ATTACHMENT Application led November 18, 1927. Serial No. 234,181.V

This invention relates to button sewing attachments for sewing machines, and has more particular reference to devices of this character which are removably applied to the presser foot bar of the sewing machine and embody a horizontally vibrated button clamp operatively connected to the needle bar of the sewing machine to cause the needle to alternately pass through different holes of the button during the sewing operation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a button sewing attachment of the above kind which is extremely simple and durable in construct-ion as well as efficient and reliable in operation.

A more specific object is to provide simple and efficient means for initially setting the button clamp to aline a hole thereof with the needle of the sewing machine, and to adjnstably limit the throw of the button clamp in one direction so that the needle may pass through another hole of the button as necessitated by different spacing of holes in various forms and sizes of buttons.

A further object is to provide a simple improved form of operative connection between the vibrating button clamp and the needle bar operated lever.

Still another object is to provide a button sewing attachment embodying a button clamp normally tensioned to move upwardly from the supporting )late of the clamp, whereby to release the fabric upon which the button is sewed when the presser foot bar is elevated, and means to automatically depress the button clamp into gripping engagement with the fabric when the presser foot bar is lowered to sewing position.

Other objectsand advantages will become apparent as the nature of the invention .is better understood, and the same consists 1n the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying` drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein is shown what is at present believed to b-e the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a button sewing attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the parts normally disposed as when the pressure foot bar is elevated;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the attachment shown in Figure 1 with the button clamp normally disposed at one limit of its vibrating movement;

Figure 3 is a view similar yto Figure 2 with the button clamp shifted to its other limit of vibrating movement; s

Figure 4 is a plan view of the button clamp and the vibrating mounting plate therefor, and illustrating the aws of the button clamp in the relation which they assume when engagino' a button; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of an end portion of the device shown in Figure il, more clearly disclosing the adjusting' means for shifting the button clamp relative to its mounting plate.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated includes a rigid base plate 5 having an angular bracket 6 at its forward end and near one side, which terminates in an upper horizontal arm 7 bifurcated to lit over and be secured upon the headed lower end of a pressure foot bar indicated by dotted lines at 8, in substantially the same manner as a presser foot is now secured upon the presser foot bar. Disposed in front of the base plate 5 is a supporting plate 9 having a transversely extending arcuate elongated slct 10 therein through whiclrthe needle' 11 of the sewing machine is adapted to pass inthe button sewing operation as will later become apparent. The supporting plate 9 is provided nearone side with a rearwardly projecting arm 12 which is pivoted as at 13 upon the base plate 5 to mount the plate 9 for horizontal swinging movement.

The plate 9 supports a button clamp which embodies a main member 14 formed at its forward end with a suitable button engaging jaw 15 and provided with a rearwardly e projecting arm 16 pivoted at its rear end as at17 upon the rear end portion ofthe arm 12 of supporting plate 9 for horizontal swinging movement. Pivoted to the clamp member 14 is another button engaging jaw Cir 18 adapted to cooperate with the jaw 15 for holding a button as indicatedat 19 in Figure i with its buttonholes registered with the slot 10, the aw 15 being yieldingly urged or swung toward the hired jaw 15 by means of a suitable spring 20. The arm 16 of the button clamp is provided at its rear end with a rearwardly projecting finger 21 having a knife edge engaged with the threads of an adjusting screw 22 which has adjustable threaded engagement in an upstanding lug 28 on the rear end of the arm 12 of supporting plate 9. By reason of this construction, turning of the screw 22 will effect movement of the finger 21 to thereby swing the button clamp horizontally relative to and transversely of the supporting plate 9 whereby to initially set the button clamp for registering an opening thereof with the needle 11 of the sewing machine.

A spring 24 is mounted upon the rear end of the base plate 5 and has an end engaging the outer side of the arm 12 of mounting plate 9 as at 25 so as to normally swing the mounting plate 9 and the button clamp carried thereby in one direction, the movement of the plate 9 in this direction being adjust-ably limited by means of a set screw 26 threaded through a; lug 27 on one side of the arm 12 of plate 9 and adapted to engage the bracket 6 by means of which the attachment is secured to the presser foot bar 8. In this way the throw of the clamp is adjustably limited so that he needle 11 will properly enter the other hole of the button in the button sewing operation.

ln order to effect swinging movement of the plate 9 and the button clamp carried thereby, in a reverse direction against the action of spring 24:, a lever 28 is provided which is adapted to be operatively engaged with the needle bar 29 of the sewing machine and which has operative connection with the arm 12 of the button clamp supporting plate 9. For the latter purpose, the base plate 5 is provided with an upstanding arm 80 adjacentone side edge to the inner side of which is journaled a ratchet wheel 31 having a circular series of uniformly spaced caniilugs 82 upon the inner face thereof and having its teeth operatively engaged by means of a spring pressed pawl 83 pivoted to the operating lever 28.` rlhe lever 28 is supported by and pivoted to the outer side of the arm89 so that it may be freely swung downwardly withoutturning ratchet wheel 31 although the latter will be `engaged and turned a partial revolution by means of pawl 82 when the lever 28 is swung upwardly.

Rigid with the rear end of arm 12 of the supporting plate 9 is an angular nger 84; having an upper horizontal member which projects transversely of base plate 5 toward the ratchet wheel 31, and which terminates in a beveled free end as at arranged to engage the cam lugs 82 so that the swinging of the supporting plate 9 is eifected when the ratchet wheel is turned. The arrangement is such that the ratchet wheel 81 is advanced a distance of one cam lug at each upward movement of lever 28, and as each lug passes the end of finger 84 it forces the latter away from the ratchet wheel so as to correspondingly swing the rear proliecting end of arm 12 and thereby cause shifting of the plate 9 in an opposite direction against the action of spring 24. Naturally, soon as the lug passes the finger Set, the latter is released and spring 24 is allowed to return the supporting plate 9 and the button clamp mounted thereon to normal position.

1t will be noted that the lever 28 is slotted as at Stito engage over the needle securing screw 87 of the needle bar 29, whereby said lever 28 is operatively connected to the needle bar 29 for being rapidly swung up and down as the needle bar is reciprocated. The slot 88 in lever 28 is provided with su'iicient clearance at its upper side to permit partial upward movement of the needle bar 29 before actually swinging the lever 28 upwardly, thereby allowing the needle 11 to entirely withdraw from the buttonhole prior to actuation of ratchet wheel 81 for shifting the button laterally.

lt will he noted that the arm 16 of the button clamp is resilient and normally tensioned to cause the forward end portion of the button clamp involving aws 15 and 18, to spring upwardly away from the supporting plate 9. In this way,the button clamp is released from the goods or fabric placed upon the supporting plate 9 and beneath the button clamp so that upon completion of the sewing operation with respect to one button, the cloth or fabric may be shifted into position for the n :it button sewing operation. lin order to depress the button clamp into gripping engagement with the fabric and toward the plate 9 when the presser foot bar 8 islowered to sewing position, lever 87 is pivoted for vertical swinging movement upon a post 88 rigid with the side of the base plate 5 opposite that at which the ratchet wheel 31 is mounted. vThis lever 87 has a laterally directed forward end 89 overlying the arm 1G of the button clamp forwardly of pivot 17, and a depending rear end Ll() which is adapted to be moved below the bottom surface of base plate 5 when the button clamp is allowed to spring upwardly. lt will thus be apparent that when the pressure foot bar 8 is lowered to bring the base plate 5 into contact with the head of the sewing machine, the end portion e() of lever 37 will be forced upwardly so as to swing the lever 87 and cause its end 89 to press the button clamp downwardly upon the fabric and tol ward the plate 9 upon which the fabric is placed. Obviously, when the presser foot bar 8 is raised, the base plate 5 will be lifted olf of the bed of the sewing machine so as to allow the end 40 to move below the base plate 5 as shown in Figure l, by reason of the button clamp springing upwardly to its normal position and acting upon the end portion 39 of said lever 37.

In use, the device is applied to the lower end of the pressure foot bar 8 in lieu of the usual pressure foot which is detached, the bracket 6 being secured upon the presser foot bar S by the usual presser foot securing means, and the needle retaining screw 37 being engaged in the slot of lever 28 as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. This is accomplished while the needle bar 29 and presser foot bar 8 are elevated, and the presser foot bar 8 is then lowered so as to bring base plate 5 into contact with the bed of the sewing machine so that lever 37 is swung for depressing the button clamp toward the vibrating plate 9 which carries the same. As a cam lug 32 will be engaged with the beveled end of the finger 34 at this time, the plate 9 and the button clamp will be in the shifted position of Figure 3, and at this time, the button 19 is engaged between the button clamp jaws l5 and 18 as indicated by dotted lines in Figure il, the holes of the button being registered with the slot l0 as shown. The screw 22 is then turned to adjust the button clamp laterally of the vibrating plate 9 so that the hole of the button to the lower side of Figure l is registered with the needlell. The needle bar 29 is then further elevated to cause the operative cam lug 32 to ride entirely past the finger 34, thereby releasing the plate 9 and allowing the spring` 24 to swing the latter to the position of Figure 2. lf the needle is not alined with the other button hole at this time, the screw 26 is properly adjusted to effect this adjustment or alinement of the other button hole with the needle. It will thus be apparent that in the button sewing operation, the vibrating movement of the plate 9 will be properly limited by the screw 26 contacting with the bracket 6 each time the plate swings from the position of Figure 3 to the position of Figure 2. Provision is thus made for accommodating buttons havingdilferent spacing' of button holes. The presser foot bar 8 is then raised and the fabric is placed upon the plate 9 beneath the button clamp,

and upon operation of the sewing machine the button will be effectively attached to the fabric, the presser foot bar and the attachment being lowered prior to starting the operation of the machine. Upon each upward movement of the needle bar the needle will be withdrawn from a button hole and the lever 28 will then be actuated to turn the ratchet wheel 3l and thereby cause the plate 9 and the button clamp to be shifted and then released so that the needle will alternately pass through the respective button holes for effective attachment of the buttonY to the fabric. When the attachment of each button is eiected, the attachment is raised by elevating the presser foot bar 8 so as to allow the button clamp to spring upwardly and release the fabric so thatthe latter may be withdrawn with the attached button and shifted to a new position where the attachment of a button is desired.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor-changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

^ lVhat l claim as new is l. A button sewing attachment for sewing machines, embodying a base plate adapted for men'iber of the base plate to adjustably limit the swinging movement of said vibrating plate in the first named direction.

' 2. A button sewing attachment for sewing machines, embodying a base plate adapted for attachment to the presser-foot bar of the sewing machine, a vibrating plate pivoted on the base plate and carrying a button clamp,

Vyieldable means to swing the vibrating plate in one direction, means including a lever adapted for connection with the needle bar of the sewing machine for intermittently swinging said vibrating plate in the other direction, means to adjustably limit the swinging movement of said vibrating plate in the first named direction, said button clamp being movably mounted on said vibrating plate for adjustment transversely thereof, and means for adjusting said button clamp.

3. In a button sewing attachment for sewing machines, a base plate adapted for at-` f tachment to a presser-foot bar, a button clamp carried by said base plate and normally tensioned to spring upwardly, means to vibrate said button clamp including an operating member adapted'for operative connection to the needle bar of the sewing machine, and means to automatically depress the button clamp upon lowering of the presser-foot bar to sewing position.

4. In a-button sewing attachment for sewing machines, a base plate adapted for attachment to a presser-foot bar, a button clamp carried by said base plate and normally ten sioned to spring upwardly, means to vibrate said button clamp includingl an operating member adapted for operative connection to the needle bar of the sewing machine, and means to automatically depress the button clamp upon lowering1 of the presser-foot bar to sewing,` position, said last named means embodying` a lever` engageable with the hed of the sewing machine when the presser-foot bar is lowered.

5. In a button sewing attachment for sewing' machines, a support adapted for attachment to a pressenfoot bar, a horizontally swinging' plate pivoted on said support, a horizontally movable button clamp movably mounted on said plate, yieldable means to swing` said plate in one direction, means to adjustably limit the movement of the plate in said direction, needle bar actuated means to intermittently swing the plate in the opposite direction, and means to adjust said button clamp in either direction transversely of and relative to said plate.

6. A button sewing attachment for presserfoot bars, having` a vibrating slotted plate through which the needle is adapted to pass in the sewing operation and upon which the fabric ,is adapted to be placed, a button clamp carried by said plate said button clamp having a resilient mounting arm tensioned to normally move the button clamp `upwardly from said vibratingplate when the presser'- foot is raised to permit positioningof the fabric thereunder, and means to depress the button clamp against. the fabric against the tension of said mounting arm thereof.

7. ln a button sewing attachment for sewing' machines, a support adapted to be secured to the `presser-foot bar, a horizontally vibratable button clamp carried by said support, yieldable means to move the button clamp in one direction, means adapted for Y connection with the needle bar of the machine to intermittently move the button clamp in an opposite direction, said last named means embodying` a ratchet wheel having lateral cam lugs and a supporting member for the button clamp having a lateral finger eX- tendin in the path of said lugs, and an operating,1 lever for said ratchet wheel having a slotted end engageable with the needle-securingv screw of the needle bar, the slot of said lever being formed to provide clearance at its top to permit withdrawal of the needle from lthe button hole prior to completion of the upward movement of the needle bar, said lever being adapted to actuate the ratchet wheel upon final upward movement of the needle bar to effect movement of the button clamp.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES R. WILSON. 

